Hypertension Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control Among Adults Aged ≥18 Years - Los Angeles County, 1999-2006 and 2007-2014.

Abstract

Hypertension is an important and common risk factor for heart disease and stroke, two of the leading causes of death in adults in the United States. Despite considerable improvement in increasing the awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension, undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension remain public health challenges (1). Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used to estimate the prevalence of hypertension, as well as awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension among adults aged ≥18 years in Los Angeles County compared with adults aged ≥18 years in the United States during 1999-2006 and 2007-2014. During 2007-2014, the prevalence of hypertension was 23.1% among adults in Los Angeles County, lower than the prevalence of 29.6% among all U.S. adults. Among adults with hypertension in Los Angeles County, substantial improvements from 1999-2006 to 2007-2014 were found in hypertension awareness (increase from 73.8% to 84.6%), treatment (61.3% to 77.2%), and control (28.5% to 48.3%). Similar improvements were also seen among all U.S. adults. Although the prevalence of hypertension among adults in Los Angeles County meets the Healthy People 2020 (https://www.healthypeople.gov/) goal of ≤26.9%, continued progress is needed to meet the Healthy People 2020 goal of ≥61.2% for control of hypertension.

Age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension, and awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension among adults aged ≥18 years — Los Angeles County and United States, 1999–2006 and 2007–2014Source: National Center for Health Statistics, CDC: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).* Hypertension prevalence estimates were age-adjusted by the direct method to the 2000 U.S. Census population using the age groups 18–39, 40–59, and ≥60 years. Estimates for awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension were age-adjusted using the subpopulation of persons who have hypertension (age groups 18–39, 40–59, and ≥60 years) in NHANES 2007–2008.† Statistically significant (p<0.05) difference in prevalence of hypertension between Los Angeles County and the United States in 2007–2014.§ Statistically significant (p<0.05) differences in awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension from 1999–2006 to 2007–2014 in both Los Angeles County and the United States.